The DeForest Water Utility (“Utility”) has a proud tradition of providing safe and healthy drinking water to its residents and visitors.
Around 2007, the DeForest Water Utility, which includes wells 2, 3, and 4 and services the northern half of the Village, acquired the Token Creek Water District (“Token Creek”), which includes well 6, from the Town of Burke. Token Creek services the southern portion of DeForest and areas within the Town of Burke. Well 6 has never treated its water with fluoride, whereas wells 2, 3, and 4 do treat water with fluoride.
In 2021, the two water systems were merged to one unified DeForest Water Utility with the addition of a booster station to balance the differing elevations.
In 2024, the chemical pumps in wells 2, 3, and 4 began to show signs of deterioration and failure which prompted the staff to further investigate the cost to replace the pumps and consider adding fluoride, along with the facility improved necessary to store fluoride, to Well 6. Following the initial investigation and consideration of possible impacts of fluoride to health of staff, allegations of health impacts to water system users, operational concerns, and financial impacts; the proposal for removing fluoride from the system was first introduced to the Public Services Commission at its November 18, 2024 meeting and the Village Board on November 19, 2024. The full timeline of events can be found below with resources from the meetings.
